The Surge in Leadless Pacemakers: Evaluating the Benefits for Indian Patients
What is a Leadless Pacemaker?
A leadless pacemaker is a small, one-piece device that a surgeon inserts into your heart to prevent slow heart rates. All the parts of a leadless pacemaker are inside one device, and there is no separate battery. Also, it doesn’t need leads (wires) as the whole device sits in your heart’s right ventricle (heart chamber).
Leadless pacemakers are about 1 to 1.5 inches (3 to 4 centimetres) long, and the device looks like a small metal cylinder. It’s even smaller than a AAA battery.
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How does a leadless pacemaker work?
During leadless pacemaker surgery in India, your surgeon programmes and customises your device to deliver electrical impulses to your heart muscle. A leadless pacemaker can detect your heart’s own electrical signals. When your natural electrical impulses aren’t frequent enough, it can provide additional stimulation.
Who is eligible for a leadless pacemaker?
Pacemakers help people who suffer from bradyarrhythmias or slow heart rates. These slow heart rhythms may occur because of any disease in your heart’s conduction system.
- A surgeon may implant a leadless pacemaker when a patient has:
- A need for pacing sometimes
- Atrial fibrillation (Afib) with pauses or slow heart rates
- Afib or sinus rhythm with AV block
- Bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome (slow and fast heart rhythms)
- Bradycardia with symptoms
Some people aren’t eligible for a leadless pacemaker. Presently, the device is available only for patients with a slow heart rate (bradycardia) who only need pacing in one heart chamber and certain other medical conditions.
Your surgeon can tell if you are eligible to receive a leadless pacemaker after reviewing your:
- Medical history
- Heart rhythm
- Results from noninvasive tests like an echocardiogram (ultrasound of your heart)
How should a patient prepare for a leadless pacemaker surgery in India?
Before receiving a leadless pacemaker, you’ll:
- You will need someone to take you home from the healthcare centre.
- Receive instructions from your surgeon about when to stop eating or taking certain medicines before your procedure. Don’t stop taking any medicines unless your surgeon tells you to do so.
What happens during the leadless pacemaker surgery in India?
Your surgeon will:
- Numb an area in your groin with a local anaesthetic (pain-relieving medication)
- Make a tiny incision in your groin.
- Insert a catheter (a thin, long tube) into your femoral vein through the incision.
- Guide the catheter to your heart with an X-ray machine.
- Place the leadless pacemaker inside your right ventricle and secure it there. They screw it into your heart muscle or use the device’s nickel-titanium tines to secure it.
- Make sure the leadless pacemaker is attached to the ventricle wall and programmed correctly.
- Remove the catheter.
- Close the site of the incision by applying pressure to the area.
How long does it take to have a leadless pacemaker surgery in India?
The procedure takes roughly 30 minutes to complete. However, this can vary depending on the device and the patient’s anatomy.
What happens after this procedure?
After receiving a leadless pacemaker, you must:
- Lie flat and keep your leg straight for 2-6 hours to prevent bleeding from the access site. Avoid standing or sitting.
- Have a clinician place a sterile dressing on your groin area to prevent it from infection.
- Stay in the hospital for the night.
- Go home after your surgeon checks your device and takes a chest X-ray.
What are the pros and cons of a leadless pacemaker surgery in India?
Before your leadless pacemaker surgery in India, your surgeon will talk to you about its pros and cons. They will help you choose the best device for you.
Pros of a leadless pacemaker
- It does not require leads (wires), a separate power source, or a surgical pocket on the chest to hold the power source. These are common causes of traditional pacemaker complications.
- No leads are anchored to the muscle or lump under the skin on the chest, which can cause minor discomfort.
- No scar or chest incision from generator placement and replacements
- The procedure takes less time than a traditional pacemaker implant surgery.
- There is no need to restrict upper body activity after the implant.
- It’s 90% smaller than a traditional pacemaker.
- It’s safe to use in an MRI machine.
- It’s suitable for patients who aren’t candidates for a traditional pacemaker.
Cons of a leadless pacemaker
- It can only pace one heart chamber.
- It can’t defibrillate.
- Swelling and bleeding at the incision site (the most common problem after a leadless pacemaker implant). Usually, these aren’t life-threatening but may lead to a slower recovery or longer hospital stay.
- Risk of heart puncture.
- Costlier than traditional pacemakers.
How long does it take to recover from a leadless pacemaker surgery in India?
You can resume your daily activities two weeks after receiving a leadless pacemaker. Your surgeon will check your leadless pacemaker:
Within 24 hours of putting it in
After one month
Every three, six, or 12 months
Your doctor will want to make sure you’re healing well, and your device is functioning properly. At each visit, he/she will also check your device’s battery charge.
When should I call my doctor?
Contact your doctor if you:
- Have bleeding or an infection around your incision.
- Have swelling in your ankles or calves.
- Feel like you did before getting the surgery
- Feel faint or dizzy
- Have trouble breathing
About Curebridge
With Curebridge, individuals and their families can access top-notch healthcare facilities across India. Besides connecting patients with suitable healthcare providers in India, Curebridge offers support for aftercare and logistics, including travel, lodging, consultations, and treatments.
Curebridge has a team of seasoned professionals adept at guiding patients through the intricacies of the Indian healthcare system. The platform is committed to providing transparent and affordable pricing, offering patients various payment options to suit their circumstances.
For more details, chat with us at +91-9152065206 or email [email protected].